SYSTEM AND METHOD EMPLOYING A THERMOCOUPLE JUNCTION FOR MONITORING OF PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS

• US 20080039739A1
• Filed: 08/14/2007
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Frederick Buja
• Original Assignee: Frederick Buja
• Inventors: Buja, Frederick
• Granted Patent: US 8,790,256 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/549
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02108 from analysis of pulse wave characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02141 Details of apparatus construction, e.g. pump units or housings therefor, cuff pressurising systems, arrangements of fluid conduits or circuits A61B5/02233, A61B5/0235 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/026 Measuring blood flow A61B3/1233, A61B3/1241 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/03 Detecting, measuring or recording fluid pressure within the body other than blood pressure, e.g. cerebral pressure; Measuring pressure in body tissues or organs A61B5/205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/082 Evaluation by breath analysis, e.g. determination of the chemical composition of exhaled breath A61B5/083, A61B5/091 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0878 using temperature sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/024 for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/02 for measuring temperature of moving fluids or granular materials capable of flow
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/20 Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/02 using thermoelectric elements, e.g. thermocouples

Abstract

Disclosed are systems and methods for enabling the acquisition of physiological parameters of a mammal or other specimen using thermo-mechanical responses (e.g., temperature, pressure and alternatively acceleration, pulse, position). In accordance with one example embodiment, a monitoring device for wired and/or wireless sensors is used to acquire a series of sensor signals that are attached to achieve the physiological measurements of a mammal vital signs is provided. The device includes a Temperature-Pressure (T-P) sensor configured to attach to respiration, vascular pressure and audio points of the mammal in a manner suitable for obtaining the acquired individual sensor electrical signal. The sensor system is configured to attach to alternative locations of the specimen in a manner suitable for obtaining electrical signals in communication with a signal receiver and transmitter. Physiological parameters, such as those associated with vital signs (temperature, pulse, respiration, etc.), can be obtained using the monitoring device and associated sensors.

Claims

1. A physiological sensor, comprising:

a thermocouple having a bead-shaped junction suitable for exposure to a physiological processes, whereby the junction can sense a physiological parameter, said thermocouple producing a signal in response to the physiological parameter; and

circuitry connected to the thermocouple for receiving the signal, converting the signal to data representing the physiological parameter, and at least temporarily storing data representing the physiological parameter.

2. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the physiological parameter is body temperature, and where said circuitry stores data over a period of time to sense changes in temperature to thereby represent a physiological process.

4. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein said bead-shaped junction is a micro-bead such that said thermocouple senses changes in a thermo-mechanical response of said bead-shaped junction, thereby producing a signal including a pressure component.

5. The sensor according to claim 4, wherein said thermo-mechanical response includes a response to a gas, liquid, or solid pressure change.

6. The sensor according to claim 4, wherein said micro-bead is formed as a contact region between two dissimilar metal wires.

7. The sensor according to claim 6, wherein at least one of said dissimilar metal wires has a generally round cross-section.

8. The sensor according to claim 6, wherein said contact is a welded contact.

9. The sensor according to claim 6, wherein said dissimilar metal wires have a diameter of less than about 0.006 inches.

10. The sensor according to claim 9, wherein the diameter of said metal wires is no larger than about 0.001 inches.

11. The sensor according to claim 10, wherein said contact region is less than about 0.000001 square inches.

12. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein said circuitry includes a timing device and where said bead-shaped junction is placed in proximity to a specimen'"'"'s respiratory orifice to sense respiration and said circuitry outputs data including a respiration rate.

13. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein said circuitry includes a timing device and where said bead-shaped junction is placed in proximity to an artery of a specimen to sense changes in the pressure of the artery and said circuitry outputs data including a heart rate.

14. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein said circuitry includes a plurality of spaced-apart sensors, a timing device and where bead-shaped junctions for each of said thermocouple sensors are placed in proximity to an artery of a specimen and said circuitry outputs data including a flow rate of blood flowing through the artery.

15. The sensor according to claim 4, wherein the physiological parameter is blood pressure, and where said circuitry stores data over a period of time to sense changes in blood pressure and to thereby represent a physiological process.

16. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein said sensor further comprises a system, attached to said circuitry, to periodically receive the data, and to process the data for display.

17. The sensor according to claim 4, wherein said sensor further comprises a system, attached to said circuitry, to periodically sample the data, and to process blood pressure and pulse data for display.

18. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the physiological parameter is respiration, and where said circuitry stores data over a period of time to sense a respiration rate and to thereby represent a physiological process.

19. The sensor according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of said thermocouples, each having bead-shaped junctions wherein the physiological parameter is temperature and rate of respiration.

20. The sensor according to claim 19, wherein at least one sensor monitors a first physiological parameter and at least one other sensor monitors a second physiological parameter.

21. The sensor according to claim 18, wherein said plurality of sensors monitor respiration from both the respiratory orifices.

22. The sensor according to claim 21, further including a signaling component that indicates whether the specimen is respirating, and if so signals each respiration, or otherwise signals that the specimen has expired.

3. The sensor according to clam 2, wherein the temperature is sensed at a plurality of sites on a subject.

23. A method for sensing a physiological parameter, comprising:

providing a thermocouple including a bead-shaped junction suitable for exposure to a physiological processes;

exposing the bead-shaped junction to the physiological process, whereby the junction produces a signal in response to the physiological parameter;

receiving the signal;

converting the signal to data representing the physiological parameter; and

at least temporarily, storing data representing the physiological parameter.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the physiological parameter is specimen temperature, and where said circuitry stores data over a period of time to sense changes in temperature to thereby represent a physiological process.

26. The method according to claim 23, wherein said bead-shaped junction is produced in the form of a micro-bead such that said thermocouple senses thermo-mechanical stimuli, thereby producing a signal including a pressure component.

34. The method according to claim 23, wherein said bead-shaped junction is placed in proximity to a specimen'"'"'s respiratory orifice to sense respiration over time, and where a respiration rate is determined and output.

35. The method according to claim 23, wherein said bead-shaped junction is placed in proximity to an artery of a specimen to sense changes in the pressure of the artery, and where a heart rate is determined and output.

36. The method according to claim 23, wherein said thermocouple sensors are placed in proximity to an artery of a specimen and where a blood flow rate through the artery is determined and output.

38. The method according to claim 23, wherein a remote system, communicating with said memory, periodically receives the data and processes the data for display.

40. The method according to claim 23, wherein the physiological parameter is respiration, and where data is collected and stored over a period of time to sense a respiration rate and to thereby represent a physiological process.

41. The method according to claim 23, wherein the physiological parameter is temperature and rate of respiration.

42. The method according to claim 23, wherein at least one thermocouple is exposed to a first physiological parameter and at least one other sensor is exposed to a second physiological parameter.

43. The method according to claim 41, wherein a plurality of thermocouple junctions monitor respiration from multiple respiratory orifices.

44. The method according to claim 43, further including signaling to indicate whether the specimen is respirating, and if so signaling each respiration, or otherwise signaling that the specimen has expired.

25. The method according to clam 24, wherein temperature is sensed at a plurality of sites on the specimen.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein said thermo-mechanical response includes a response to change in the pressure of a gas, liquid, or solid.

28. The method according to claim 25, further including forming said micro-bead as a contact region between two dissimilar metal wires.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein at least one of said dissimilar metal wires has a generally round cross-section.

30. The method according to claim 28, wherein the dissimilar metal wires are welded to produce the contact region.

31. The method according to claim 28, wherein said dissimilar metal wires have a diameter of less than about 0.006 inches.

32. The method according to claim 29, wherein the diameter of said metal wires is no larger than about 0.001 inches.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein said contact region is less than about 0.000001 square inches.

37. The method according to claim 25, wherein the physiological parameter is blood pressure, and where data is stored over a period of time to sense changes in blood pressure and to thereby represent a physiological process.

39. The method according to claim 25, further including periodically sampling the data to process blood pressure and pulse data for display.